Hospital helps HARP

Following the success of its previous annual food banks, Southend University Hospital joined forces with Southend-based charity HARP to collect food for local homeless people this winter.

Staff from across the Trust pooled together to donate a whole
tables worth of food, which included staples like canned goods and
cereals and festive treats like chocolate.

HARP Community Fundraiser, Lisa Walton said: "We are so grateful
to Southend Hospital for their support once again this year. Last
December we provided over 5,000 meals to those that were homeless
or living in HARP accommodation over the festive period, so as you
can see, food donations are vital to help us continue providing for
those most at risk."

HARP, Southend's homeless charity, runs several assistance
programmes to provide essential services such as emergency housing.
The charity operates a day centre and night shelter, has a number
of hostels across the town and offers cooking and budgeting courses
- all with the aim of reducing homelessness, enabling people to
rebuild their lives and return to independent living.

Lisa continued: "The health and wellbeing of those we support is
of utmost importance to us at HARP so we strive to provide hot
nutritious meals all year round; however, it is wonderful to also
be able to provide festive treats at this time of the year thanks
to our wonderful, supportive community."